Abigail stepped forward.
“You forged my father's deed.”
Crowe looked at her.
“Yes.”
The admission stunned her.
Silas stared.
Crowe continued.
“Your father discovered the mine. He wanted to expose us. So we gave him a choice.”
“What choice?”
“Sign or watch his daughter disappear.”
Abigail's blood ran cold.
“You threatened me.”
“Yes.”
“And he signed.”
“Yes.”
“Then why kill him?”
Crowe's expression hardened.
“Because he changed his mind.”
Abigail looked at the ledger.
“You killed him.”
“I didn't.”
“Who did?”
Crowe smiled.
“You should ask Silas.”
Silas's face went still.
Abigail turned.
“What does he mean?”
Crowe backed toward the entrance.
“Ask him about the night your father died.”
Then he disappeared.
Abigail turned to Silas.
“What happened?”
Silas said nothing.
“What happened?”
He closed his eyes.
“I was there.”
Her stomach dropped.
“You killed him?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“He was already dying.”
“Why were you there?”
“To help him escape.”
“Did you?”
Silas looked away.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because someone betrayed us.”
“Who?”
Silas whispered:
“Your father.”
Abigail stared.
“That doesn't make sense.”
“He gave our location to Crowe.”
“Why?”
“To save you.”
Silas's voice broke.
“He believed they would take you if he didn't.”
Abigail sat down.
Her father had betrayed Silas.
Silas had tried to save her.
Her mother had trusted Silas.
And Crowe had used all of them against each other.
The truth was not a straight line.
It was a knot.
And every time Abigail pulled at one thread, another wound opened.
Silas sat opposite her.
“I hated him for years.”
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“Then why protect me?”
“Because he asked me to.”
Abigail looked at him.
“He trusted you.”
“I didn't deserve it.”
“Maybe he knew that.”
Silas gave a bitter smile.
“Your family was always better at forgiving than mine.”
They returned to the cabin before dark.
Neither spoke.
That evening, Abigail stood outside beneath the stars.
Silas joined her.
“You're angry.”
“Yes.”
“At me?”
“Yes.”
“You should be.”
She looked at him.
“Did you love my mother?”
Silas was silent for a long time.
“Yes.”
The honesty surprised her.
“Did she love you?”
“I don't know.”
Abigail smiled sadly.
“I think she did.”
“Why?”
“Because she trusted you.”
Silas looked toward the mountains.
“She trusted too many people.”
“Maybe.”
Abigail folded her arms.
“But she trusted the right one eventually.”
He looked at her.
She held his gaze.
For the first time, the fear between them began to change.
Not disappear.
Change.
Silas was still dangerous.
Still secretive.
Still carrying scars that Abigail did not understand.
But he was not the monster Red Hollow had made him.
He was a man who had survived monsters.
And perhaps that was why he recognized them so quickly.
Three days later, they returned to Red Hollow.
Abigail entered the town square on horseback.
Silas rode beside her.
People stopped what they were doing.
Whispers spread.
“She came back.”
“Boone brought her.”
“She looks different.”
Abigail ignored them.
She rode directly to the courthouse.
Mayor Crowe was waiting.
He looked surprised.
“Abigail.”
She dismounted.
“I want my land.”
Crowe laughed.
“You have no land.”
“I have the original deed.”
His smile disappeared.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“You will.”
She handed the deed to the sheriff.
He read it.
Then looked at Crowe.
“Where did you get this?”
“From my grandfather's records.”
The sheriff's face changed.
Crowe stepped forward.
“This is forged.”
Silas walked into the courthouse.
“No.”
He placed the ledgers on the desk.
“These are not.”
Crowe looked at them.
For the first time, Abigail saw fear in his eyes.
Not anger.
Fear.
People gathered outside.
The sheriff began reading.
Names.
Payments.
Bribes.
Forged signatures.
Missing workers.